Maharishi opens funded millet research training in India

As climate change intensifies drought, heat and rainfall variability across Africa, scientists from across the continent are being invited to India for a funded, three-month advanced training program on millets and other ancient grains — crops with growing importance for climate resilience, nutrition and food security.

Offered under the Millets And Other Ancient Grains International Research Initiative (Maharishi), the program will be hosted at the Global Centre of Excellence on Millets at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Indian Institute of Millets Research (ICAR–IIMR) in Hyderabad, India, with participation open through an application process.

Selected early- and mid-career researchers will gain hands-on exposure to advanced millet research and technologies, including genomics-led breeding, high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping, rapid generation advancement, biofortification and the development of climate-resilient, nutritionally enhanced varieties.

The program will also cover the wider millet and other grains value chain, including agronomy, seed systems, post-harvest management, processing, nutrition, food safety, entrepreneurship, value addition and market development.

Through Maharishi, the training aims to strengthen scientific exchange and South–South cooperation, connecting researchers and institutions working to build more resilient and sustainable food systems across Africa and the wider Global South.

Mangi Lal Jat, secretary, DARE, and director general, ICAR, and one of India’s leading voices on agricultural research and innovation, highlighted the significance of the initiative, noting that the future of food security in the drylands will depend on how effectively countries connect science, people and institutions across borders, particularly around crops such as millets and other ancient grains that are well suited to a changing climate.

“India has built deep scientific expertise in millets and other ancient grains, and sharing that knowledge across borders can multiply its value and impact.

“Through Maharishi, we have an opportunity to bring together experience in breeding, production, nutrition and value addition with the knowledge, diversity and innovation of partner countries across the Global South.

“The challenges of climate change, food insecurity and malnutrition demand cooperation that is ambitious, practical and enduring. Connecting scientists and institutions can help move good research into practice faster and strengthen the role of millets and other ancient grains in building more resilient and nutritious food systems at scale.

“Scientific exchange also creates relationships that endure well beyond a training programme, giving researchers the opportunity to learn from one another, adapt technologies to local realities and build partnerships that continue generating solutions for farmers and communities for years to come.

“I encourage eligible scientists to take up this opportunity, share their own expertise and perspectives, and become part of a growing global community advancing the science of millets and ancient grains for a changing world,” said Dr Jat.

Alice Ruhweza, president of AGRA, applauded ICAR and the Government of India for advancing South–South cooperation through Maharishi and for investing in the scientific leadership needed to drive Africa’s agricultural transformation.

“AGRA commends ICAR and the Government of India for advancing South–South cooperation through the Maharishi initiative and for investing in the scientific leadership needed to help shape the future of Africa’s food systems. Initiatives such as this are critical at a time when climate change, land degradation and rising food insecurity are increasing pressure on farmers and food systems across the continent.

“The recently released Impact, Learning and Foresight findings show that achieving farmer prosperity requires Africa to overcome three interlocking traps, the productivity trap, the capability trap and the value trap.

“Initiatives such as Maharishi directly address the productivity and capability traps by strengthening scientific expertise, advancing research and building the institutional capacity needed to accelerate innovation.

“The growing importance of millets and other ancient grains also creates an opportunity to address the value trap by expanding market opportunities, increasing the value generated from agricultural production and strengthening the investability of the sector.

Through strengthening collaboration among researchers, scientists and institutions, the Maharishi initiative can help accelerate the development and adoption of solutions that improve farmer livelihoods, drive farmer prosperity and build more resilient food systems across Africa,” said Ms. Ruhweza.